A/N: These are the same characters I used in the one-shot 'Fake Blood.' It's seen through Tamia's point of view.
Characters:
Tamia: Narrator (female)
Riley: Friend (male)
Florida: Friend (female)
Adelio: Friend (male)
oooooooo
"Hey, it's starting!"
"What?"
"Be quiet! I can't hear!"
"Me neither!"
"So shut up!"
I swear, when Florida and Adelio are together, it's impossible for them to be quiet. I don't want to spend all night like this. What about the Games? That's why they're here in the first place. We all wanted to watch the finale together. Does anyone remember? "Guys, seriously, calm down. Just rewind it."
Florida blinks. "Oh. Right."
Four hands reach for the remote at the same time.
"Adelio! Give it!"
He grins. "Not a chance, Flori."
That's it. I'm leaving.
"I'll be getting the popcorn, okay?" I call out, relatively sure no one is listening.
I was right. Florida and Adelio are too busy squabbling to notice. The biggest reaction I get is a small nod from Riley, who's busy sipping his soda and watching, amused, as the fighting unfolds in front of him.
Well, whatever. Things will simmer down eventually.
I make my way to the baby blue kitchen. The tiled floor is cold under my bare feet. Maybe I should get some slippers . . .
Caesar Flickerman's voice drifts from the other room. Apparently, they've gotten things under control in there and restarted the program. Better hurry.
I rush over to the microwave. The popcorn was in there for long enough, I suppose. It'll be good enough. I pop open the door and grab the full-to-bursting bag.
Where are the bowls? Which cabinet, which cabinet . . .
Eh, who cares? We'll just eat out of the bag. I'm only concerned with how the Hunger Games end! Sadie has been tracking Current, and I'm almost sure they're going to fight this time. It's the 21st episode, and that's about how long a Game usually takes to complete.
I'm guessing that, in reality, someone has won by now. That's kind of how it works, as far as I can gather. They film a day, make it into an episode, and air it the next. So we're about a day behind.
I'm holding the hot bag in my hands, trying not to spill popcorn onto the floor, as I rush to the TV room. Caesar has already finished his little introduction, talking about the last two contestants and who's going to win. So far, the odds are in Current's favor. He's strong and good with swords and stuff, but Sadie is fast. I'm rooting for her, and so is Riley. Florida and Adelio want Current to win. It's kind of weird; they act like they hate each other, but agree about a lot.
I plop the food onto the coffee table. It makes a satisfying, crunching noise. Almost immediately, Adelio's hand is reaching for it.
Now, where to sit?
Riley smiles, and I respond in kind. He pats the spot next to him on the couch. Hoping he can't see my blush, I sit down next to him. Florida tosses me a furry blanket, my favorite, the blue-grey one with silver spots.
Perfect. Bring on the Games.
oooooooo
The Arena is a hot, sandy, and barren wasteland. Definitely not the best fighting ground I've seen, but the tributes made up for it. They were really fun to watch. Granted, a lot of them died from thirst, which was lame, but I loved seeing the smart ones find solutions. Sadie actually cut open a weird, spiky plant to get water. Besides being fast, she's also super-smart, which is why I want her to win. Keeps her cool when things get hot, no pun about the arena intended.
Right now, the camera is on Sadie. She's still planning to ambush Current, the boy from District Four. I'm not sure how she's going to do it. Last I saw him, he was resting in the shade of the Cornucopia, trying to get away from the sun.
Sadie's leaning against a boulder, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. She looks really terrible, all burnt skin and sick eyes. Her clothes have been reduced to filthy rags that hang loosely on her skinny frame. I hate to admit it, but this girl's chances aren't so good.
She coughs, a horrible, dry sound, and sinks to her knees. The sand and dust are sent into the air, then settle back down, bathing her battered body in tan powders. The blood on her arm doesn't look so bright after being sprinkled with the stuff.
She takes a shuddering breath, inhaling even more sand. I'm beginning to worry she's going to just flop over and die when she puts a trembling hand on her backpack and slowly eases it off, wincing as the straps rub her tender arms.
She fumbles with the latch, and after a while, managed to snap it open. She reaches in and pulls out her only supplies: A rope, some strong nails, a hammer, and an empty flask. She looks at it longingly, licking her cracked lips, but moves on to peer around the boulder.
The camera moves to show what Sadie's looking at. Not very far away, you can see the Cornucopia. She's closer to Current than I first thought.
It's a weird setup. You could say Sadie is at the edge of a drinking glass, and Current is in it, along with the Cornucopia. There's a single ladder you can climb to get out of the pit, but that's all. I think Sadie's plan has something to do with this.
I'm getting really interested when it switches to Current. He's standing in the shade, looking around through narrowed eyes. He takes a swig of water from a jug, pauses, and kicks the Cornucopia. It makes a metallic, ringing, sort-of-hollow sound. It's been empty for a long time now, since a fire burnt most of the supplies to ashes.
He sighs, sits back down, and waits.
oooooooo
Meanwhile, Sadie has been busy. She found an old log somewhere and has dragged it back over to the boulder. She's trying to slide it underneath the boulder, huffing and puffing as she pushes down onto it. She's about to get it when the wood splinters, sending a shower of chips her way. She winces, wipes the blood off her face, and struggles to keep from collapsing.
oooooooo
Current swings the sword, and its blade collides with the Cornucopia. It leaves a small dent. He growls in frustration, and turns towards the horizon.
"Where is she?"
oooooooo
There are even more snapped logs at Sadie's feet. The Gamemakers have edited out a lot. That doesn't bother me, but what Sadie is doing does.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
She keeps on throwing herself at the boulder, and each time, she collapses, only to pick herself up and keep going. The rock is actually splattered with red. She's hurting herself! Is she insane or something?
She looks ready to cry, except I don't think there's enough water in her for tears.
Maybe the heat got to -
Oh my God.
Seriously? Is she doing what I think she is?
Sadie has backed away from the boulder, and is now staring at it with a mix of terror and determination. She gulps, closes her eyes, and -
CRACK!
She really did it. Sadie went and charged the boulder.
A shriek snakes out of her mouth, almost hiding the muffled crash of her hitting the sand. I wince in spite of myself at the sight of her arm, twisted backwards and grotesque.
What am I missing here? What's going -?
Oh.
A tiny gasp escapes my lips as I see the boulder teeter on the edge of the sand cliff, lose balance, and go plummeting into the ditch. It's pretty much a straight drop, but there's just enough curve to get the stone rolling.
This whole time, Sadie's been pushing the boulder.
That's what the Gamemakers decided not to show us, to save time and keep her plan secret. It worked.
And now, the boulder is barreling straight at Current.
A huge grin spreads across my face. "Yes! Told you Sadie would -"
Current looks up in surprise, yelps, and leaps to the side. My face falls, and it's Florida's turn to cry out in triumph.
But the Cornucopia isn't so lucky. The gold horn is knocked down by the sheer force of the boulder, the metal screaming in protest as it sinks to the ground. Ash comes spilling out of the mouth, courtesy of the supply-wrecking fire.
This is so exciting! I don't think anyone has ever broken the Cornucopia before!
So much ash . . . The pit is now filled with it. Current, blind and shocked, stumbles around aimlessly in the mess of black air.
Then sneezes.
Then coughs.
Then retches into the sand. I have to look away from the disgusting mess.
Sputtering and spitting, with drool running down his chin, he rushes madly for the ladder. He knows he can't stay in the Cornucopia anymore. Sadie drew him out of his hiding place. She's got him!
Wait. No, she doesn't. He's still holding the sword.
Sadie isn't safe yet.
This Game isn't over.
I feel around with my hand for the bag of popcorn, not wanting to look away from the screen.
"Best TV show ever!"
A/N: Whew. Now that is one extremelywordy chapter. Anyway, I hope you liked it. I'll be posting the next one real soon. Kisses!
-Snow